Dear Colleagues:

I write today to recapitulate the several administrative changes at the University that I first announced on last Friday’s bi-weekly open call, all designed to better position the University in advance of the launch of our strategic plan. To help optimize the senior administrative team, as well as to streamline operations, I am pleased to announce searches for the following four positions, all of which will serve as direct reports to me.

Athletics Director: Earlier this year, Marilyn McNeil, Vice President and Director of Athletics, announced her retirement from Monmouth after 28 years of dedicated service to the University. This week, I will commence a search for a new Athletics Director to succeed VP McNeil, effective July 1, 2021. This position will not serve in a Vice President role.

Executive Director of Campus Planning and Facilities Management: Earlier this year, Patricia Swannack, Vice President for Administrative Services, likewise announced her retirement from Monmouth after a loyal 45-year tenure at the University. Presently, VP Swannack oversees four discrete functional areas: Campus Planning, Construction, and Facilities Management; Compliance; Human Resources; and the Monmouth University Police Department (MUPD).

I have spent the last several weeks taking soundings from various constituencies across the University on the best ways to manage these administrative functions in VP Swannack’s absence, and have since determined that the best way forward is to redistribute three of these four functions among the senior leadership team. Effective July 1, 2021, both Compliance and Human Resources will report directly to Vice President and General Counsel, John Christopher. Please know that I will continue to work closely with our colleagues in these areas on any significant hiring, compensation, and policy decisions. Also effective July 1, 2021, MUPD will report directly to Vice President for Student Life and Leadership Engagement, Mary Anne Nagy. This move marks a return to an earlier reporting structure here at Monmouth, and underscores the importance of our student-focused community policing efforts on campus.

In order to carry out successfully the remaining critical functions of campus planning, construction, and facilities management, particularly as we prepare to implement an ambitious capital projects plan in connection with the strategic plan, I have decided to initiate a search for a new Executive Director of Campus Planning and Facilities Management.

By making these moves, I will collapse the Vice President-level position while ensuring satisfactory oversight of each of the primary functional areas for which VP Swannack is currently responsible.

Vice President for University Advancement: In consideration of other significant retirements within the Office of Career Services, I have decided to move Career Services to the Division of University Advancement in an effort to create more intentional and innovative synergies with our network of more than 55,000 alumni. This move will allow us to thoughtfully integrate career services with alumni relations and employer partnerships, all in a collective effort to help launch our students into the careers of their choice. We will build upon our good work in career development through academic partnerships, and we will look for new ways to collaborate both with the academic units and with other areas across the University. Because of the retirements imminent in Career Services, there is some urgency to make immediate progress in this integration with University Advancement. Accordingly, I have chosen to commence a search this week for the permanent Vice President for University Advancement, who will help to develop a cutting-edge career development model for our students, and at the same time create more meaningful engagement for our alumni and donors.

Chief of Staff: For the past six months, I have employed an Acting Chief of Staff – on a trial basis and on loan from the Division of University Advancement – to determine the efficacy of this position at Monmouth. As we near the end of this six-month appointment, I am pleased to report that this position has helped both to improve productivity in the Office of the President and to serve the University in an effective manner. I have decided to begin a search this week for the permanent Chief of Staff. Once complete, the Office of the President will have been appropriately reset in size and functionality, employing three instead of four people, since two others have accepted other employment opportunities at the University.

I am confident that this reorganization will help to streamline administrative decision-making, and I am pleased that this redistribution of administrative functions has allowed me to compress two Vice President-level positions, while saving University resources in the process. Searches for each of these positions will begin first as internal searches, open only to current Monmouth employees. This affords our loyal employees an opportunity to apply first for these senior-level positions, and continues the further streamlining of administrative functions during a very challenging budget year. If no acceptable candidates emerge during these internal searches, then we will expand the searches for these positions to an external audience. Please be on the lookout for an email from the Office of Human Resources with additional details on these positions and searches.

Thank you in advance for your support of theses senior-level changes. As always, if you have questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Students:

As we begin a new semester here at Monmouth, following a long winter break, let me share a warm Welcome Back on behalf of the entire University community. We have missed you. I hope the past few weeks have afforded you some well-earned rest and relaxation.

Even as the COVID-19 health crisis continues to transform our world, the Monmouth spirit remains as strong and as vibrant as ever. Despite the many challenges presented by this pandemic, I am gratified by the many ways in which you routinely demonstrate resilience and a shared commitment to the common good at Monmouth. This upcoming semester will undoubtedly present new challenges, but I am confident that you will respond to them with continued strength and compassion. And, in so doing, remember to take advantage of the many resources available at Monmouth to enrich and support your student experience. We are committed to providing you with the most supportive environment possible, both to encourage your academic success and to help maintain your overall health, safety, and wellness.

Thank you, in advance, for your continued cooperation with our health and safety protocols, all of which can be summed up in the following: mask up, back up, and wash up. To ensure a successful spring here at Monmouth, it is going to take each of us to protect all of us. My best wishes to you for an exceptional semester.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

I write today with important information on two significant administrative changes here at Monmouth. Effective June 30, 2021, Dr. Marilyn McNeil, Vice President and Director of Athletics, and Patricia (Patti) Swannack, Vice President for Administrative Services, will be retiring from Monmouth after long and storied careers in their respective areas. While I am reluctant for these colleagues to depart in June after a collective 73 years of service to the University, I am delighted for them to reap the benefits and enjoyments of a well-earned retirement.

Dr. Marilyn McNeil joined Monmouth in 1994 as the Director of Athletics, and over her 28-year tenure at the university, has elevated our Division 1 Athletics program into one of the premier mid-major programs in the country. And, during her time at Monmouth, Dr. McNeil has developed a winning culture on the field of play and in the classroom. She has helped lead the Hawks to 119 regular season conference championships and 38 team appearances in various NCAA tournaments, while at once setting program records for team GPA scores and Graduation Success Rates among our student-athletes. In addition to these laudable efforts in fostering a positive and winning student-athlete experience, Dr. McNeil has also demonstrated a notable commitment to gender equity and Title IX compliance in athletics – both at Monmouth and at the national level. Dr. McNeil has been a leader on this campus for nearly three decades, as well as a leader throughout intercollegiate athletics nationally, and her influence on Monmouth will be felt for decades to follow.

Patricia Swannack has dedicated her entire professional career to the advancement of Monmouth University. VP Swannack first joined Monmouth’s human resources department in 1975 and, after a series of promotions, was elevated to her current position of Vice President for Administrative Services in 1994, overseeing the departments of campus planning and construction, facilities management, human resources, student employment, and the University police department. Under her leadership and guidance, the University has performed over $325 million in construction and renovation projects, many of which have garnered national accolades for excellence in sustainability. A dedicated employee and loyal alumna of the University, VP Swannack received the Stafford Presidential Award of Excellence in 2004, as well as the Alumni Service Award in 2005. VP Swannack has been a steady and thoughtful leader on this campus for over four decades, and her many contributions to Monmouth will be celebrated for generations to come.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside Dr. McNeil and VP Swannack during my early years at Monmouth – two exceptional administrators whose commitment to Monmouth is incomparable, and whose contributions towards gender equity at Monmouth are remarkable. We will have ample opportunity to celebrate their dedication to Monmouth before June 30, but I wanted to share this news now, in order to effectively plan for these significant retirements. We will begin the search process for each position in the coming months, and I will continue to share updates with the University community as they become available. For now, please join me in thanking Dr. McNeil and VP Swannack for the indelible mark that each has left on our cherished University.

Thank you.

Pat

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

Dear Monmouth University Community:

Today, while our country processes the events of the last few weeks and prepares to inaugurate a new president, we pause to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his courageous example of social activism. Dr. King’s commitment to social justice and racial equality should inspire all of us here at Monmouth to consider the weight of our words and the impact of our actions as we pursue a more diverse, more equitable, and more inclusive community.

To this end, I hope you will join the university community on Wednesday, January 27 to honor Dr. King’s legacy at the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Lecture in Social Justice, and hear from one of today’s leading scholars on anti-racist research, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. As we prepare to start a new semester in the days ahead, and to host Dr. Kendi’s virtual visit to campus, I am heartened by Dr. King’s declaration, “We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.”

Together, we must continue to commit ourselves to carrying out Dr. King’s dream to build a country and a community free from bias, bigotry, racism, and hate. And, thanks to continuing efforts on our campus to foster a truly inclusive community, I am hopeful for the semester to come.

Enjoy the holiday!

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Monmouth University Community:

Despite the dismaying events of last week, I hope that the new year has brought you renewed energy and good health. As we prepare to welcome a new semester on January 25, I write to share reminders and updates on our plans for the spring.

Academic Affairs

Academic Schedule: The spring 2021 academic calendar is available online. In an effort to mitigate the risk of virus spread at the height of cold and flu season, we have delayed the semester start to Monday, Jan. 25. This postponement, coupled with the public health objective of preventing non-essential travel, has required us to eliminate the traditional spring break. In lieu of a weeklong spring break, the spring academic schedule incorporates “break days” in March and April. This adjusted schedule allows us to maintain our typical 14-week semester, which will end at its regularly scheduled time in early May.

Course Delivery: Course delivery methods for the spring will closely resemble those offered in the fall, with a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online delivery, designed to accommodate as many individual student preferences as possible. Students can access individual class schedules by logging into their Personal Academic Information section in WebAdvisor for details on course modalities for specific scheduled classes. Students should contact their faculty advisor or department chair directly with any questions or concerns. While we may not be able to completely satisfy the preferred schedule of every student, our faculty advisors and department chairs stand ready to address any questions or concerns.

Academic Support Services: All academic support services offered through the Center for Student Success – including advising, tutoring, career development and disability services – will remain available throughout the semester in a combination of in-person and virtual sessions.

Flexible Grading Policy: The Faculty Council will make a decision in a few weeks about continuing the Pass/Fail grading option for the spring 2021 semester, which will be communicated as soon as it is available.

Global Education: The spring 2021 semester Study Abroad programming, Global Seminars, and Global Experience programs remain suspended. Given the uncertainties of COVID-19, we strongly suggest that employees and students avoid travel during the spring 2021 semester.  Exceptions to the suspension of Monmouth-sponsored employee travel must be approved by each area vice president.

Campus Living and Learning

Residential Life: We will continue to offer on-campus housing and meal plans for all interested students. Students who deferred or cancelled fall 2020 housing contracts and have reconsidered their decision may reinstate room assignments for the spring by emailing reslife@monmouth.edu. Residence halls will continue to follow all previously prescribed community standards, including visitation limits and participation in COVID-19 surveillance testing.

COVID-19 Testing: All residential students, as well as students enrolled in hybrid or in-person courses, are encouraged to obtain a COVID-19 test within seven days preceding the start of the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 25. If a student is positive for COVID-19, they should not return to campus until they have completed the required 10-day isolation period. Any student in this situation must also contact the Department of Health Services at health@monmouth.edu to inform the University of their health status.

If a residential student or student enrolled in hybrid or in-person courses is unable to obtain a test in the seven days prior to their return to campus, they are required to be tested on campus within the first 72 hours (three days) of their return. We will be initiating a new pooled testing program for all residential students and will continue to provide routine testing of student athletes throughout the spring semester. Students residing off campus are also encouraged to participate in the pooled surveillance testing program.

Flu Shot: In addition to COVID-19 testing, all residential students and all student-athletes are required to upload documentation that they have received a flu shot, or that they qualify for a flu shot exemption, to the Student Health Portal before returning to campus.

Travel Quarantine: Students traveling to Monmouth University from one of the impacted states on New Jersey’s travel advisory list or from outside the U.S. must quarantine in-state for 14 days prior to their arrival on campus. Residential students affected by these guidelines have been accommodated with an early arrival date to satisfy this quarantine requirement.

Students who reside internationally should be aware that effective January 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.

Dining: Dining services will continue to be available to all students, compliant with state guidelines. Limited indoor dining will be available in various locations, and we will continue to offer takeout meals and space for socially distanced outdoor dining as the weather permits. New menu items and food stations have been added to Magill Commons, including cooked-to-order omelets, rotisserie chicken, nightly pasta dishes, and a dessert and ice cream station. The mobile ordering app introduced in the fall will be available this spring for individuals to place to-go meal orders.

Student Activities: Our full range of clubs, organizations, and intramural/recreational activities will continue to operate on a virtual basis. When safely possible, we will consider limited in-person activity, in accordance with public health guidelines on social distancing and proper use of face masks. As the weather improves, we will make every effort to accommodate outdoor programming to safely allow for increased in-person student activities. The recruitment process for students looking to affiliate with a fraternity or sorority will also be held virtually.

Athletics Activities: University Athletics will resume practice and competition this spring for most sports, including fall sports teams whose practice and competition schedules were disrupted due to COVID-19. Coaches and student-athletes are required to follow guidelines set forth by the State of New Jersey, the NCAA, and the specific conferences in which they play. All formal practices and individual and small group training must be supervised by athletics staff.

Tuition and Fees

As a reminder, tuition and fees are fully refundable through Monday, Feb. 1, one week after the start of classes, and we will continue to offer pro-rated credit adjustments for housing and meal contracts through the spring semester. Students should contact bursar@monmouth.edu with any questions related to their spring bills.

Public Health

As always, these plans are predicated on current and prevailing public health guidance. If public health restrictions change, which subsequently affect plans for the spring semester, updated information will be communicated as quickly as possible.

To reduce the risk of virus spread, particularly during the height of cold and flu season, we will continue to require the proper use of face masks and social distancing of at least six feet. We also encourage all students and employees coming to campus to utilize the CampusClear symptom tracking app and COVID Alert NJ contact tracing app. As always, we urge anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms to get promptly tested. The most current and comprehensive campus information, including daily dashboard data, is updated and available on our COVID-19 website.

The past several months have presented countless challenges, but I have been routinely encouraged by the goodwill and resolve of our University community in responding to them. If we continue to demonstrate the compassion and determination that has typified our community since its earliest days, I am confident that we will grow smarter and stronger – and even more exceptional – together. I appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times together, and look forward to a successful spring semester with you. Please feel free to reach out to SpringRestart@monmouth.edu with any questions regarding our plans for the spring. Our team is ready to assist you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Monmouth University Community:

These first days of 2021 have been more eventful than any of us could have ever anticipated. As we continue to combat an ongoing global pandemic, and persevere in the fight for racial justice, we witnessed last Wednesday an unprecedented and disgraceful attack on the United States Capitol and the basic tenets of democracy that undergird our rule of law and sense of community. Like so many of you, I have spent the past week reflecting on the attack on our Capitol, which was at once an attack on our democratic ideals and on our sense of justice and equality.

For me, this was also profoundly personal. As an undergraduate student in Washington, DC, I had the great privilege of interning on Capitol Hill for then-Senator Al Gore. The energy on the Hill was incredible, and experiencing a small glimpse of the inner workings of American Democracy at the highest level was a highlight of my college career. To see marauders breaking into that hallowed building was a sight I never imagined – then or now. I am deeply dismayed that a small mob could, for a moment, strip the Capitol of its standing as a symbol of the democratic principles that we hold so dear. I am equally disheartened that members of this mob, who attempted to disrupt the electoral process and the peaceful transfer of power, did so under the auspices of bigotry, bias, racism, and hate.

As an American, I condemn these acts in the strongest way possible. And, as an American, I am proud that our elected officials – Democrats and Republicans alike – reconvened to continue the people’s work, demonstrating the enduring strength of our American democracy. Our system of government bent last week, but it did not break.  

As an educator, I feel a desire to recommit myself, as well as the University I have the privilege of serving, to upholding our commitment to being a diverse, equitable, just, and inclusive community – the kind of academic community that represents the very best of America. I am encouraged by the good work on our campus to educate our citizenry, to develop the next generation of compassionate leaders, to uphold democratic ideals of free speech and mutual respect, and to foster a decidedly antiracist campus community. That is what it will take – in our own small corner of this vast nation – to help prevent an event like this from ever happening again.

These remain challenging times. As we continue winter break and prepare to resume our activities on January 25, please know that support services remain available for all members of the Monmouth University community who seek them. Counseling and Psychological Services and the Intercultural Center are just a phone or Zoom call away.

While our nation remains divided, let us continue to do our small part to heal it.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy

President

Dear Colleagues:

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving break, let me take a moment to share my gratitude for all that you do to make Monmouth University such an exceptional community. I am grateful for your many contributions to the life of our university. Your strong commitment and service to Monmouth – even in these uncertain times – makes my job as President truly rewarding.

This has been a challenging year, but you have faced these untold challenges with both grit and grace. I appreciate the patience and flexibility that you have shown since the outset of the COVID-19 health crisis, and I am grateful for the steps that you have taken – big and small alike – to protect the safety and well-being of our community.

I offer my heartfelt thanks for all that you do to enrich our community, as well as my profound gratitude to all of your loved ones who support you throughout the year. As a small gesture of thanks, and to allow time to prepare for the holiday, I have provided for an early dismissal at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 for all non-essential employees.

May your time together this Thanksgiving be joyful, restful, and safe. May you return to us replenished and ready for a successful end to the semester. Amy, the kids, and I wish you all the very best.

Pat
Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Monmouth University Community:

I write with details on Monmouth’s plans for the coming 2021 spring semester. As with all of our planning and decisions since the outset of the COVID-19 health crisis, our plans are guided by maintaining the safety of our community and are informed by collaborative discussions with public health officials and key stakeholder groups at the University. I believe that these plans are well-informed and reflect the best interests of our community.

Academic Affairs

Academic Schedule: The spring 2021 academic calendar has been updated and posted online. In an effort to mitigate the risk of virus spread at the height of cold and flu season, we have delayed the semester start to Monday, Jan. 25. This postponement, coupled with the public health objective of preventing non-essential travel, has required us to eliminate the traditional spring break. In lieu of a weeklong spring break, the spring academic schedule incorporates “break days” in March and April. This adjusted schedule allows us to maintain our typical 14 week semester, which will end when it normally does in early May.

Course Delivery: Course delivery methods for the spring will closely resemble those offered in the fall, with a mix of in-person, hybrid, and online delivery, designed to be as accommodating to individual student preferences as possible. Students can access individual class schedules by logging into their Personal Academic Information section in WebAdvisor for details on course modalities for specific scheduled classes. Students should contact their faculty advisor or department chair directly with any questions or concerns. While we may not be able to completely satisfy the preferred schedule of every student, our faculty advisors and department chairs stand ready to answer any questions about schedule adjustments. 

Academic Support Services: All academic support services offered through the Center for Student Success – including advising, tutoring, career development and disability services – will remain available throughout the semester in a combination of in-person and virtual sessions.

Flexible Grading Policy: The Faculty Council will make a decision early in the spring about continuing the Pass/Fail grading option for the spring 2021 semester.

Global Education: The spring 2021 semester Study Abroad programming, Global Seminars, and Global Experience programs remain suspended. Given the uncertainties of COVID-19, we strongly suggest that employees and students avoid travel during the spring 2021 semester.  Exceptions to the suspension of Monmouth-sponsored travel must be approved by each employee’s area vice president.

Campus Living and Learning

Residential Life: We will continue to offer on-campus housing and meal plans for all interested students. Students who deferred or cancelled fall 2020 housing contracts and have reconsidered their decision may reinstate room assignments for the spring by emailing reslife@monmouth.edu.  Residential halls will continue to follow all previously prescribed community standards, including visitation limits and participation in surveillance COVID-19 testing.

COVID-19 Testing: All residential students, as well as all students enrolled in hybrid or in-person courses, are required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result within seven days of the start of the spring semester on Monday, Jan. 25. Students impacted by the COVID-19 testing requirement will receive further instruction as we approach the start of the new semester.

Travel Quarantine: Students traveling to Monmouth University from one of the impacted states on New Jersey’s travel advisory list must quarantine in-state for 14 days prior to their arrival on campus. Residential students will be accommodated with an early arrival date to satisfy this quarantine requirement. Students affected by the quarantine requirement will be contacted by the Office of Residential Life with specific instructions prior to the start of the semester.

Dining: Dining services will continue to be available to all students, compliant with State guidelines. We hope to make limited indoor dining available and will continue to offer takeout meals and space for socially distanced outdoor dining as the weather permits.

Tuition Payment

Billing: Invoices for the spring 2021 semester will be sent electronically to students and their designated authorized user contacts beginning Monday, Nov. 23.  Payment deadline for the spring 2021 semester is Wednesday, Dec. 16. Students should contact bursar@monmouth.edu with any questions related to their spring bills. As a reminder, tuition and fees are fully refundable through Monday, Feb. 1, one week after the start of classes, and we will continue to offer pro-rated credit adjustments for housing and meal contracts through the spring semester.

Public Health

As always, these plans are predicated on current and prevailing public health guidance. If public health restrictions change, which subsequently affect plans for the spring semester, updated information will be communicated as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to SpringRestart@monmouth.edu with any questions regarding our plans for the spring semester. Our team is ready to assist you.

To reduce the risk of virus spread, we will continue to require the proper use of face masks and social distancing of at least six feet. We also encourage all students and employees coming to campus to utilize the CampusClear symptom tracking app and COVID Alert NJ contact tracing app. As always, we urge anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms to get promptly tested. The most current and comprehensive campus information, including daily dashboard data, is updated and available on our COVID-19 website.

Monmouth is a University grounded in resilience and determination, and I have great faith that our community will continue to demonstrate these strengths in the months ahead. I am grateful for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times together and look forward to a successful spring semester with you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President

Dear Members of the Monmouth University Community:

At the 11^th hour, on the 11^th day, in the 11^th month of the year, we Americans pause and recognize our men and women in uniform – past and present – who have defended our freedom and constitutional rights. On this Veterans Day 2020 all of the members of the Monmouth University community join me in thanking them for their service to our country.

Today, especially, we thank all of the veterans who are part of Monmouth University, including the students, faculty, staff, and alumni whose public service continues to enhance the character of our community. In recent years our veterans have inspired new academic and outreach efforts including: our Military Bridge Program; a long collaboration with Frontline Paper; and the Coming Home Project, grounded in our School of Social Work. These are initiatives at Monmouth of which I am very proud.

I would also like to thank Michael Callahan, our director of Veteran Services and Student Support, for organizing today’s virtual Veterans Day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. I hope you will join me at that time to hear from Michael and two more of our veterans – Michael Eck ’18 and Joshua Hartman ’22 – each of whom have served our country and university community in exemplary ways.

Please join me in thanking our men and women in the armed forces whose heroism protects our great nation. May their selfless acts inspire our own.

Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President